Release Day Review: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

The Water Witch
by Juliet Dark (Pseudonym for Carol Goodman)
Series: Fairwick Chronicles #2
Publisher: Random House/Ballantine 
Publication date: February 12, 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing Undine River, more trouble is stirring. . . . The enchanted town of Fairwick’s dazzling mix of mythical creatures has come under siege from the Grove: a sinister group of witches determined to banish the fey back to their ancestral land. With factions turning on one another, all are cruelly forced to take sides. Callie’s grandmother, a prominent Grove member, demands her granddaughter’s compliance, but half-witch/half-fey Callie can hardly betray her friends and colleagues at the college. To stave off disaster, Callie enlists Duncan Laird, an alluring seductive academic who cultivates her vast magical potential, but to what end? Deeply conflicted, Callie struggles to save her beloved Fairwick, dangerously pushing her extraordinary powers to the limit—risking all, even the needs of her own passionate heart.

I loved The Demon Lover, book one in the Fairwick Chronicles and was eager to return to Fairwick and all of the supernatural creatures who reside there. I will confess that in my heart of hearts I was also hoping that somehow Callie and her succubus lover Liam would be reunited. Dark delivers a beautiful, and enchanting tale that kept me enthralled. I loved the characters, the mystery and the magic of this college town.

It is summer and Callie McFay is working on her Victorian home surrounded by the Honeysuckle Forest. She still dreams of Liam, her succubus lover that she and her friends banished to fairy world. Callie is half-witch and half-Fae something she only discovered after accepting a position at the college. She awakens from another dream of Liam to discover her friends knocking at the door. They need her assistance in making the door wider to the Fae world for young ones ready to return home. As she helps them crossover, she goes with them. There she encounters Liam and angers a creature. She narrowly escapes through the door but not without bringing trouble back to Fairwick. The tale that unfolds is riddled in mystery, danger, secrets and mystical creatures.  

We learn more about Callie and some of her indecisiveness is fully understood. At times she frustrated me and I am still waiting for her to come into her own. The powers of witch and Fae are running through her. She is very powerful but something is blocking her and with her friends approval she enlists the help of Duncan Laird an academic who helps her unlock her power. Callie finds herself confused by the men in her life. Liam, who she wants to love but cannot; they are together in her dreams. She really struggles with this; she knows she loves him, but respects the more knowledgeable woman in her group with regard to succubus.  Duncan who shows interest but whose touch burns her and then there is Bill the handyman who is sweet and kind. He always seems to be there when she needs him. I adore Liam but can you really trust a succubus? Even if he is yummy and a total hero at times?*sighs* Duncan seems brilliant and wants to help Callie but I was unsure of his intent. Bill was adorable but seemed to know more then he let on. As clues about Callie emerge she faces danger and adversaries. All of the creatures and characters we meet add to the tale. The council members are freaks including Callie’s grandmother and are wreaking havoc for the good folks of Fairwick.   

First, I want a door gnome, a mouse who likes when you read Ralph and the Motorcycle to him on rainy afternoons and a magic stone for reading. I am not crazy these are all very practical…read the book! *nods head* Dark's gorgeous writing style and the pacing where wonderful. Her imagination is equally delightful as I really enjoyed all of the supernatural creatures residing in Fairwick. The legends and lore surrounding them were fascinating  While Callie’s problems with her magic reminded me of Diana in Discovery of Witches the rest of the tale is quite original. The first tale focused more on Callie and Liam and this second book focuses more on Callie and the town. I found myself caught up in all that was happening in Fairwick and Callie’s role in stopping it. Her obsession/romance with Liam tugged at my heart. Dark introduced Duncan Laird into the picture and I feared a love triangle. The storyline with Duncan, Bill and Liam was, irritating, fascinating, hot and heart-breaking. While we learned a lot there is so much more waiting to be discovered and once again Dark ends the book by breaking my heart and then offering me a ray of hope.  

Fans of the All Souls trilogy, Hogwarts and supernatural creatures will love the Water Witch and the Fairwick Chronicles. I cannot wait for news on the third book. The town of Fairwick is enchanting and I could see myself living in that old Victorian house by the Honeysuckle Forest. 

I want to thank Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Four cups of French roast coffee out of five

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